Jay C. Upchurch
9/13/2007, 01:37 PM
NORMAN, Okla. - The University of Oklahoma Board of Regents has
authorized OU Athletics to enter into a contract extension with Sooner
Sports Properties. The action authorized the negotiation and execution
of the final agreement.
The agreement will extend the OU-Sooner Sports Properties relationship
through 2017 with more than $75 million in total revenue and financial
support to the Sooner program. Sooner Sports Properties is a joint
venture property of Learfield Sports, Griffin Communications and Renda
Broadcasting.
"As one of a handful of self sufficient collegiate athletics programs
that does not require state appropriated funds, taxes, campus funds or
student fees to supplement the funding of budget operations it is
important for us to develop innovative funding sources that allow us to
provide resources to pursue championship level programs without putting
the entire burden on the ticket holders," said Joe Castiglione, OU Vice
President for Sports Programs and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics.
"The state of the art student-athlete services we provide from academic
support to athletic training help create our competitive edge.
Furthermore, the additional revenues also assist in another aspect of
our mission, hiring and retaining some of the most respected coaches and
staff in the nation. Moreover, we're one of a few intercollegiate
athletics programs which actually help subsidize academic programs,
exceeding three million dollars over the last five years."
Sooner Sports Properties (SSP) is the locally-based entity that
administers and oversees all broadcasting, marketing, and sponsorship
related activity on behalf of the University's athletics program.
General Manager Eric Barnhart leads the Sooner Sports Properties staff.
Sooner Sports Properties manages OU Athletics' multimedia rights, which
include radio, television, print, signage, official athletic Web site
advertising and all corporate sponsorship sales. Additionally, SSP not
only will pursue an expanded television component, committing to more
games, but also a broadband channel for Sooner sports. Other initiatives
include enhanced promotions, a scholarship endowment for men's
basketball and subsidizing the installation of new digital scoreboards
in the football and basketball venues.
Castiglione cited SSP's shared vision and past performance in extending
the relationship.
"As we reflected on what best represents the needs of the University of
Oklahoma, we will enter into this extended agreement focused on serving
our fans by enhancing the marketing of our programs and aggressively
pursuing new technology and opportunities," said Castiglione. "We
appreciate the enormous growth we have experienced with Sooner Sports
Properties and its partners. We are excited that our multi-media
partners share our vision of providing even greater visibility for our
programs as we keep OU Athletics firmly entrenched as a leader in
college sports. Both of us are enthusiastic about what the future holds
and focused on providing only the best to a very large and loyal fan
base. People will see tangible improvements as a result of this new
agreement."
"We've enjoyed building this exceptional relationship with the
University, Joe and the OU athletics administration over the years,"
said Greg Brown, president of Learfield Sports. "It is exciting for us
to continue with one of the nation's powerhouse programs in collegiate
sports. We look forward to moving full-speed ahead with our agreement,
and the new and exciting elements.
Dallas-based Learfield Sports is an operating unit of Jefferson City,
Mo.-based Learfield Communications, Inc., which made its initial foray
into the world of sports marketing in 1975 as a radio rights holder for
the University of Missouri, a client still today. For additional
information on Learfield Sports, visit www.learfieldsports.com.
In addition to Oklahoma, Learfield Sports manages the multimedia rights
for nearly 40 collegiate institutions and associations, including other
Big 12 Conference members Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas State, Missouri
and Texas A&M. The company also secures marketing partnerships for the
Black Coaches & Administrators (BCA) and provides exclusive sports
programming to more than 1,000 radio stations throughout the country.
Additionally, Team Services, LLC, a Learfield Sports company,
specializes in venue naming rights, marketing research and sales
consultation.
Griffin Communications and Renda Broadcasting are the media flagship
homes of OU sports programming. Griffin Communications owns and operates
Oklahoma City-based KWTV News 9 and NewsNow 53. Renda Broadcasting owns
and operates the Oklahoma City-based OU flagship stations KRXO 107.7 FM
and KOKC 1520 AM.
OU SID Report
authorized OU Athletics to enter into a contract extension with Sooner
Sports Properties. The action authorized the negotiation and execution
of the final agreement.
The agreement will extend the OU-Sooner Sports Properties relationship
through 2017 with more than $75 million in total revenue and financial
support to the Sooner program. Sooner Sports Properties is a joint
venture property of Learfield Sports, Griffin Communications and Renda
Broadcasting.
"As one of a handful of self sufficient collegiate athletics programs
that does not require state appropriated funds, taxes, campus funds or
student fees to supplement the funding of budget operations it is
important for us to develop innovative funding sources that allow us to
provide resources to pursue championship level programs without putting
the entire burden on the ticket holders," said Joe Castiglione, OU Vice
President for Sports Programs and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics.
"The state of the art student-athlete services we provide from academic
support to athletic training help create our competitive edge.
Furthermore, the additional revenues also assist in another aspect of
our mission, hiring and retaining some of the most respected coaches and
staff in the nation. Moreover, we're one of a few intercollegiate
athletics programs which actually help subsidize academic programs,
exceeding three million dollars over the last five years."
Sooner Sports Properties (SSP) is the locally-based entity that
administers and oversees all broadcasting, marketing, and sponsorship
related activity on behalf of the University's athletics program.
General Manager Eric Barnhart leads the Sooner Sports Properties staff.
Sooner Sports Properties manages OU Athletics' multimedia rights, which
include radio, television, print, signage, official athletic Web site
advertising and all corporate sponsorship sales. Additionally, SSP not
only will pursue an expanded television component, committing to more
games, but also a broadband channel for Sooner sports. Other initiatives
include enhanced promotions, a scholarship endowment for men's
basketball and subsidizing the installation of new digital scoreboards
in the football and basketball venues.
Castiglione cited SSP's shared vision and past performance in extending
the relationship.
"As we reflected on what best represents the needs of the University of
Oklahoma, we will enter into this extended agreement focused on serving
our fans by enhancing the marketing of our programs and aggressively
pursuing new technology and opportunities," said Castiglione. "We
appreciate the enormous growth we have experienced with Sooner Sports
Properties and its partners. We are excited that our multi-media
partners share our vision of providing even greater visibility for our
programs as we keep OU Athletics firmly entrenched as a leader in
college sports. Both of us are enthusiastic about what the future holds
and focused on providing only the best to a very large and loyal fan
base. People will see tangible improvements as a result of this new
agreement."
"We've enjoyed building this exceptional relationship with the
University, Joe and the OU athletics administration over the years,"
said Greg Brown, president of Learfield Sports. "It is exciting for us
to continue with one of the nation's powerhouse programs in collegiate
sports. We look forward to moving full-speed ahead with our agreement,
and the new and exciting elements.
Dallas-based Learfield Sports is an operating unit of Jefferson City,
Mo.-based Learfield Communications, Inc., which made its initial foray
into the world of sports marketing in 1975 as a radio rights holder for
the University of Missouri, a client still today. For additional
information on Learfield Sports, visit www.learfieldsports.com.
In addition to Oklahoma, Learfield Sports manages the multimedia rights
for nearly 40 collegiate institutions and associations, including other
Big 12 Conference members Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas State, Missouri
and Texas A&M. The company also secures marketing partnerships for the
Black Coaches & Administrators (BCA) and provides exclusive sports
programming to more than 1,000 radio stations throughout the country.
Additionally, Team Services, LLC, a Learfield Sports company,
specializes in venue naming rights, marketing research and sales
consultation.
Griffin Communications and Renda Broadcasting are the media flagship
homes of OU sports programming. Griffin Communications owns and operates
Oklahoma City-based KWTV News 9 and NewsNow 53. Renda Broadcasting owns
and operates the Oklahoma City-based OU flagship stations KRXO 107.7 FM
and KOKC 1520 AM.
OU SID Report